West Ham v Swansea City team news: Carroll and Valencia lead the line as Sakho and Song return for the Hammers

Striking Start: Sakho has scored seven goals in his first nine matches for West Ham

Top scorer Diafra Sakho starts on the bench for West Ham having not played for the club since injuring his shoulder on November 8.

The Senegalese striker has not featured for West Ham since the goalless draw at home to Aston Villa back at the start of November, having scored seven goals in his first nine appearances for Allardyce's side.

Those goals included a run of six consecutive Premier League strikes, and Sakho return to the squad is a massive attacking boos for the Hammers.

Back against the Swans today, Andy Carroll and Antonia Valencia lead the line, while Allardyce can also welcome back Alex Song who, like Sakho, hasn't featured since the Villa game.

Writing in his weekly Standard Sport column, Alllardyce spoke of the Hammers' ambitions of qualifying for Europe next season.

"It’s great that the supporters are revelling in our success so far because it was tough for them at times last season," admitted Allardyce.

"Now they are asking: Can we qualify for Europe? If we carry on as we have, that is not an unrealistic ambition. However, we are only just over a third of the way through the season and many things can happen. It’s right for the fans to have their dreams, though, and it’s our job to try and make those dreams a reality.

"It’s been hard graft to get to where we are but it will be even harder to stay there. The truth is we will have to maintain our current level to stay where we are in the table.

"We’ve lost four games this season and if we want to finish right up there, we can afford only eight defeats or maybe 10 at most.

"That’s difficult for any team but certainly it looks as though we might be able to achieve it."